I agree about Oregon. People just did not know what to make of them given their losses, but it turns out they are going to be very good. Not quite as good as the last couple of years, but very, very good nonetheless. Sabally2 and Boley are going to require strong defensive efforts. Sabally2 is certainly not your typical first year starter, and Boley we have always known about. What surprised me was PaoPao who seems to be a deadly accurate three point shooting point guard. Having PaoPao and Boley on the floor at the same time vastly complicates perimeter defense. We will badly miss Dodson, who would have been an excellent defender on Sabally2.
Prince did seem to me to change the game when she was in. Our own weakness, if it is a weakness, is inexperience in the post, and we will have to figure out how to deal with Prince while defending the three point line--it will be hard to double her and we probably won't. I am not sure she has reached her offensive potential yet--she is no Ruthy Hebard-- but she is going to block a lot of shots and convert a lot of O-boards and is longer than Ruthy.
Yup, Oregon has moved ahead of Arizona to join UCLA in my mind as our biggest threats. But at least it will not be like last year, where all the genius of Tara and multiple repeat opportunities still left us simply physically unable to compete with the Oregon WNBA team. I think we will still be favored this year, that our defense can defend this Oregon team more effectively than last year's team. But I would not be surprised at a split and very close games.
Hah! I think she is just more animated than some. CTT complains just as much, I think. Of course, compared with Tara, they all are animated :) And at least Close is very respectful of Tara.
UCLA will be a dangerous team this year. I think they will be at least as good as last year, and Onyenwere beat us badly during our first game last year--we could not defend her. The starter they lost--Japreece Dean--was 2/10. A key this year will be whether Belibi or Jones or anyone else can defend Onyenwere--who moves inside and out so well that she really can't be doubled. No freshman--certainly not Brink--will be able to defend senior Onyenwere. I almost wonder if we should play zone against UCLA this year.
Osborne can probably be defended by Williams and team, but she will suck attention away from Onyenwere.
Prince did seem to me to change the game when she was in. Our own weakness, if it is a weakness, is inexperience in the post, and we will have to figure out how to deal with Prince while defending the three point line--it will be hard to double her and we probably won't. I am not sure she has reached her offensive potential yet--she is no Ruthy Hebard-- but she is going to block a lot of shots and convert a lot of O-boards and is longer than Ruthy.
Yup, Oregon has moved ahead of Arizona to join UCLA in my mind as our biggest threats. But at least it will not be like last year, where all the genius of Tara and multiple repeat opportunities still left us simply physically unable to compete with the Oregon WNBA team. I think we will still be favored this year, that our defense can defend this Oregon team more effectively than last year's team. But I would not be surprised at a split and very close games.
(12-05-2020, 07:35 AM)paloalto Wrote: I find the UCLA coach annoying. Is there any coach in the PAC-12 who complains more than she does?
Hah! I think she is just more animated than some. CTT complains just as much, I think. Of course, compared with Tara, they all are animated :) And at least Close is very respectful of Tara.
UCLA will be a dangerous team this year. I think they will be at least as good as last year, and Onyenwere beat us badly during our first game last year--we could not defend her. The starter they lost--Japreece Dean--was 2/10. A key this year will be whether Belibi or Jones or anyone else can defend Onyenwere--who moves inside and out so well that she really can't be doubled. No freshman--certainly not Brink--will be able to defend senior Onyenwere. I almost wonder if we should play zone against UCLA this year.
Osborne can probably be defended by Williams and team, but she will suck attention away from Onyenwere.